Fastest Growing Restaurant Chains 2025: 3 Key Takeaways
- US restaurant industry grows 4% in 2025 — but top chains are outpacing it dramatically.
- Dave’s Hot Chicken hit $406M in sales with 80 new stores coming in 2025 and 1,000 more in the pipeline.
- Jersey Mike’s Subs grew 45% in 3 years and now operates nearly 2,900 restaurants nationwide.
Fastest Growing Restaurant Chains 2025 are reshaping the U.S. dining landscape, outpacing the industry’s modest 4% growth.
This list highlights the top performers, the restaurant brands capturing attention with rapid growth, smart strategies, and nationwide buzz.
Fastest-Growing Restaurant Brands in the US
From fast-casual newcomers to legacy brands reinventing themselves, these restaurant chains are scaling quickly and reshaping the dining landscape in the process.
1. Dave's Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken, famous for Nashville-style hot chicken, has grown from East Hollywood roots to $406M in sales across 260 locations.
With 80 new openings planned for 2025 and 1,000 more in the pipeline, its fast, high-quality model keeps fueling rapid expansion.
2. Burritobar
Burritobar, Canada’s fastest-growing Mexican food franchise, is expanding rapidly in the U.S. A new deal adds 93 future restaurants, pushing its total to 750 planned locations.
Targeting states like New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, and Florida, the chain rides the fast-casual boom as demand for bold, flavorful options grows.
3. Bonchon
Bonchon, known for its crispy Korean fried chicken, has grown steadily since debuting in New York in 2006.
By Q1 2025 it reached 150 U.S. locations, with plans to expand to 500 nationwide and 1,000 globally within five years.
4. Culver’s
Culver’s, the Wisconsin-born chain famous for ButterBurgers and frozen custard, is nearing the 1,000-location milestone.
After reaching 997 restaurants by early 2025, it plans to add 55 more this year, fueled by its reputation for quality fast food, Midwestern hospitality, and loyal fans.
5. Port of Subs
Port of Subs, known for its fresh sliced-to-order sandwiches since the 1970s, is stepping into the spotlight in 2025.
The chain plans to add 300+ new locations, mainly in California and Minnesota, and grow past 500 restaurants within five years.
Local deals, including 50 new stores in Arizona and 10 in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, are fueling its rapid expansion.
6. Jersey Mike's Subs
Jersey Mike’s Subs has surged to nearly 2,900 locations, ranking second on Entrepreneur’s 2025 QSR list after 45% growth in three years.
Its $8B acquisition by Blackstone underscores investor confidence, while fresh ingredients and the signature “Mike’s Way” keep fueling suburban expansion.
7. Bojangles
Bojangles, the Southern favorite for chicken, biscuits, and tea, has grown from a single Charlotte location to 800+ restaurants across 17 states.
In 2025, it’s expanding west with new stores in California and Nevada, including its first Las Vegas opening and more planned across Southern California.
8. Dunn Brothers Coffee
Dunn Brothers Coffee, a Minnesota-based chain rooted in the Midwest, has grown to 50 locations and is expanding into Texas.
Over the next five years, it plans to open 250+ new stores across multiple states, aiming to grow fivefold.
9. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen continues to grow in 2025 with strong global demand for its comfort food.
In 2024 it added 126 new stores, lifted sales 4.2%, and expanded into airports, campuses, and international markets.
Its new “Easy to Run” initiative is streamlining operations and enhancing the customer experience.
10. Whataburger
Whataburger, famous for its made-to-order burgers, is expanding beyond Texas with 80 new locations planned in Georgia and Alabama.
Backed by strong sales and loyal fans, the chain is positioning itself as a nationwide favorite for classic American comfort food.
11. Raising Cane's
Raising Cane’s, famous for chicken fingers and Cane’s Sauce, opened 118 new restaurants in 2024, topping 850 locations by early 2025—a 20% jump in one year.
With its simple menu, loyal Gen Z fan base, and strong workplace culture, the Louisiana-based chain plans even more growth in new markets this year.
12. Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, known for fresh smoothies and bold flavors, hit 1,500 locations in 2024.
That year, over 70% of new stores came from existing owners, alongside 247 new franchise deals — proof of its growing appeal among health-focused customers.
13. Qdoba
QDOBA is regaining momentum with bold flavors and ambitious growth.
After adding 14 new restaurants in 2023 and 50 in 2024, it plans 70 more in 2025, pushing past 800 locations on its way to 1,500 by 2033.
Sales are also climbing, up 6.1% in 2023 and 7.7% in 2024, fueled by high-traffic openings and multi-unit franchisees.
14. Scooter's Coffee
Scooter’s Coffee is rapidly expanding with its drive-thru model and fast, friendly service. After opening 120 new stores and reaching 800 locations, it aims to surpass 1,000 by December 2025.
The brand’s momentum earned it a spot among Yelp’s top 10 fastest-growing brands in 2025.
15. Shake Shack
Shake Shack, known for its burgers, fries, and shakes, plans to open 80 new U.S. restaurants in 2025, aiming for 1,500 long term.
With 16 straight quarters of sales growth and new locations averaging over $4M each, the brand continues to prove its lasting appeal.
16. Sweetgreen
As of March 2025, Sweetgreen has grown to 921 restaurants across 24 states, up from just 250 reported previously.
This year, it plans 40 more openings, about half with its automated “Infinite Kitchen” system for faster, more consistent meals.
With new menu items like Ripple Fries and a revamped SG Rewards program, Sweetgreen is positioning itself as one of 2025’s fastest-growing chains.
17. MOD Pizza
MOD Pizza, known for customizable pies and quick service, now operates 485+ locations across 28 states.
Acquired by Elite Restaurant Group in 2024, the brand is pursuing refranchising, new markets, and flexible store formats to keep expanding.
18. Slim Chickens
Slim Chickens, known for crispy chicken and 14 signature sauces, has grown to 300+ restaurants by early 2025 after nearly 25% growth in one year.
The brand aims to hit 600 locations by year’s end, with 150 new franchise deals and 50 more openings planned across the U.S. and abroad.
19. CAVA
CAVA, with about 370 U.S. locations, plans to reach 1,000 by 2032 and add 62 to 66 new restaurants in 2025.
Boosted by its $318M IPO, the brand expanded into Miami, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, generating $954.3M in 2024 sales — up 35% year over year.
With same-store sales rising 13.4% and AI-powered “Connected Kitchens” improving speed and accuracy, CAVA is positioning itself as a fast-growing Mediterranean leader.
20. Marco’s Pizza
Marco’s Pizza, known for fresh Italian-style flavors, has grown past 1,200 locations after opening 70 new stores and signing 86 franchise deals in 2024.
Ranked in Entrepreneur’s 2025 Franchise 500 Top 50, the brand is expanding through multi-unit owners, non-traditional venues like airports, and 50 planned locations in Mexico City.
21. Chipotle
Chipotle, famous for customizable burritos, bowls, and salads, continues to lead fast casual with strong growth. In late 2024, sales rose 13%, while 119 new restaurants opened.
For 2025, Chipotle plans 315–345 more locations, new menu items like Honey Chicken, and wider rollout of its popular Chipotlane drive-thru format.
22. Wingstop
Wingstop, with 2,560+ stores worldwide, is expanding globally with 200+ new locations planned, including in France.
How the Fastest Growing Restaurant Chains Stand Out From the Industry Average
The U.S. restaurant industry is set to grow just over 4% in 2025, but leading chains are far outpacing that rate.
These best restaurant chains are winning with tech integration, strong customer experiences, and aggressive growth strategies, capturing a bigger slice of the market.
Source: Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
This chart shows the U.S. restaurant industry’s market size in billions of dollars. The industry grew from $759B in 2021 to $905B in 2023, and it is projected to nearly double to $1.77T by 2030.
Sources and Methodology for the Fastest Growing Restaurant Chains
Our research is grounded in the latest annual rankings and reports from Entrepreneur, Push Operations, Daily Meal and The FW.
Brands were evaluated based on 2025 metrics such as sales growth, store openings, market expansion and digital initiatives.
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